117: Chapter 117 The Conditions of Soul Wind

The North Dragon King's entire cultivation base, the bloodlines of the two great royal clans, and the energy of countless vengeful spirits within the Dragon Transformation Demon Array—after absorbing these vast and complex powers into his body, he needed time to refine them thoroughly.

The meridians of the Heaven Class Advanced Burning Technique circulated through his body for several cycles, stripping away and purifying the violent blood-evil aura layer by layer, converting it into the purest source power that merged into his limbs and bones.

His foundation at the mid-Eight Star Dou Sheng stage gradually stabilized during this brief moment of rest.

When he opened his eyes, the Dragon Transformation Demon Array above East Dragon Island had completely dissipated, the blood-colored mist torn into shreds by the sunlight, and long-lost radiance once again shone down upon the devastated island.

On the square not far away, Hei Qing was leading a team of guards to escort prisoners.

The remnants of the three islands who had followed the North Dragon King in rebellion were disarmed, kneeling dejectedly in the ruins, their dragon wings stained with blood and dust.

Zi Yan stood on the stone steps in front of the main hall. The bloodstains on her body had not yet been cleaned, and the wound on her left arm was only crudely bandaged, but the majesty befitting a Dragon Emperor had already returned to those golden eyes.

"As for the remnants of North Dragon Island, all those who participated in the Dragon Transformation Demon Array are to be killed. Those from West Dragon Island and South Dragon Island who were coerced are to be disarmed and sent back to their original islands to observe their future conduct."

Her voice was not loud, yet it clearly spread throughout the entire square, her youthful tone carrying an unquestionable cold hardness.

Hei Qing cupped his fists to acknowledge the order and turned to lead his team in execution.

Dozens of core rebel soldiers from North Dragon Island, whose hands were stained with the blood of their kin, were escorted to the edge of the square. With a swing of blades, dragon blood splattered onto the ruins.

The prisoners from West Dragon Island and South Dragon Island knelt on the ground, trembling, but upon hearing the words "sent back to their original islands," a sense of relief at having survived the ordeal appeared in their eyes.

Hun Feng leaned against a stone pillar, watching this scene without speaking.

Zi Yan's method of dealing with the rebels was clean and decisive, with clear rewards and punishments—executing the ringleaders and pardoning those who were coerced. This both deterred those with ill intentions and won over people's hearts.

He could not help but recall the first time he met Zi Yan in the Demon Flame Space; she was still a boisterous little girl following behind Xiao Yan, yet now she could stand on her own, wielding a dragon spear to judge the life and death of her kin atop the ruins.

Half a day later, the aftermath was cleaned up.

The remnants of West Dragon Island and South Dragon Island were escorted off East Dragon Island by Hei Qing, while the remains of the kin sacrificed by the North Dragon King were collected together and buried in the Dragon Tomb behind East Dragon Island.

The elites of East Dragon Island began repairing the breached defensive lines, and the wounded were carried into the temporary infirmary.

Although the entire island was devastated, order had already been restored.

After handling all the matters, Zi Yan walked up to Hun Feng.

Her face was still bruised, and blood was faintly seeping through the bandage on her left arm, but the composure befitting a Dragon Emperor had returned to those golden eyes.

She looked at Hun Feng, remained silent for a moment, and then turned to the side, making a "please" gesture: "Come in and talk."

The main hall of East Dragon Island had been mostly destroyed in the earlier battle, but the side hall was still relatively intact.

Zi Yan led Hun Feng to sit in the side hall and personally poured him a cup of tea.

The tea was the Dragon Saliva Tea unique to East Dragon Island; the tea leaves unfurled in the boiling water, emitting a faint, refreshing fragrance.

Hun Feng picked up the teacup, took a sip, and praised it as good tea.

Zi Yan sat down opposite him, not beating around the bush, and went straight to the point: "Hun Feng, you saved my life and saved East Dragon Island; I will remember this favor. The Void Ancient Dragon Clan owes you a life. If you have any need in the future, as long as it does not violate clan rules, I, Zi Yan, will have no objections."

Hun Feng set down the teacup, looked into Zi Yan's golden eyes, and said in a calm and sincere tone: "I do not want you to owe me a life. I want the Void Ancient Dragon Clan to form an alliance with the Hun Clan."

Zi Yan's movement of picking up the teacup paused.

She did not answer immediately, just lowered her head to look at the slowly unfurling tea leaves in the cup, remaining silent for quite a while before speaking, her voice carrying a hint of hesitation: "About the alliance... can you change the condition? I don't like the Hun Clan. Back in the Demon Flame Space, you know how many people the Hun Clan killed. Later, at the wedding in the Soul Realm, you detained Sister Cai Lin—although she is with you now, you forcibly took her back then. If I form an alliance with a Hun Clan like this, the elders in the clan will not agree."

Hun Feng did not refute her, nor was he in a hurry to explain.

He just leaned back against the chair, looking at Zi Yan's bruised face, and suddenly laughed.

Zi Yan was confused by his laughter and asked him what he was laughing at.

Hun Feng shook his head, his tone carrying a bit of helplessness: "Zi Yan, what kind of person do you think I, Hun Feng, am? What kind of race do you think my Hun Clan is?"

Zi Yan thought for a moment and answered seriously: "You are very strong; there are few people on this continent stronger than you. But you are also very bad—stealing other people's wives, exterminating entire clans, and killing without blinking. Not to mention the Hun Clan; the destruction of the Xiao Clan a thousand years ago was your doing, and the number of factions destroyed by the Hall of Souls on this continent over these years is countless."

"Fine, then let me ask you. My six wives—Cai Lin, Yao Yao, Xun'er, Xiao Yi Xian, Cao Ying, and Yun Yun—which one of them has been abused by me? Which one has been locked up as a prisoner by me? After Cai Lin married me, the Snake-People Tribe moved from the edge of the Magical Beast Mountain Range to the outskirts of the Soul Realm and was no longer bullied by anyone. After Xun'er married me, the Ancient Clan and the Hun Clan formed an alliance, and Father-in-law Gu Yuan personally brought gifts to the Soul Realm to see his daughter. After Xiao Yi Xian married me, the entire Soul Realm knew that the Calamity Poison Body was not a curse. After Cao Ying married me, the Cao family went from a small family without even a Dou Sheng to a staunch ally of the Hun Clan. After Yun Yun married me, the Flower Sect officially signed a non-aggression pact with the Hall of Souls two months ago and no longer has to look at anyone else's face. You say I, Hun Feng, am bad, and I admit it—I never show mercy to my enemies. But I have never mistreated anyone of my own."

Zi Yan pursed her lips and did not refute him.

She remembered the nine-colored snake scale that Medusa had entrusted Hun Feng to bring her, and recalled the day of the wedding in the Soul Realm, when Medusa stood beside Hun Feng in her bright red wedding dress, with a sense of composure and peace in her eyes and brows that she had never seen before.

She had known Cai Lin for so many years and could tell that she was truly at ease, not pretending.

Seeing that Zi Yan's expression was beginning to soften, Hun Feng leaned forward slightly, his tone adding a layer of mystery: "Zi Yan, I know a huge secret, about your father, Zhu Kun."

Zi Yan raised her head abruptly, disbelief surging in those golden eyes.

Zhu Kun—the previous Dragon Emperor of the Void Ancient Dragon Clan, her father.

Her father had gone missing when she was very young, and the elders in the clan all said that he had long since fallen.

She thought he had died long ago and thought she would never hear that name again in her life.

Her voice trembled slightly: "Zhu Kun? How do you know that name? The elders in the clan all said he had fallen—on what grounds do you say he is still alive?"

"Because he did not die at all. He is trapped in a place you would never expect—deep beneath Jia Nan Academy, at the very bottom of the magma world, at the entrance of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's Cave Abode. He did not fall; he was suppressed there by some extremely powerful restriction. Unless a Dou Di takes action, no one can rescue him."

Zi Yan stood up abruptly, knocking over the chair behind her.

Her voice trembled, and she did not know if it was anger or excitement: "You are talking nonsense! How could my father be trapped deep beneath Jia Nan Academy? I have been there countless times and have never sensed any aura of the dragon race!"

"Because your father's Dragon Emperor bloodline was completely isolated by the restriction of the Ancient Emperor Cave; only someone who also possesses the Dragon Emperor bloodline can sense his existence when approaching that area. If you don't believe me, I can take you there right now. At my speed, it won't take long to get from here to Jia Nan Academy. Once we reach the depths of the Inner Academy, you only need to release your Dragon Emperor bloodline, and you will naturally be able to sense his aura."

Zi Yan remained silent for a long time.

Her fingers clenched and unclenched, unclenched and clenched, repeating several times.

Finally, she raised her head to look at Hun Feng, those golden eyes swirling with extremely complex emotions—anticipation, fear, unease, and a trace of excitement that even she dared not admit.

"Fine, I will go with you. If what you say is true—I will form an alliance with you. And acknowledging you as my Big Brother is not impossible! If you lie to me, Hun Feng, even if you are an Eight Star Dou Sheng, I will let you know the consequences of teasing the Dragon Emperor of the Void Ancient Dragon Clan. I will hammer you to death, you bastard."

Hun Feng let out a laugh and stood up, adjusting his cuffs: "Rest assured, I, Hun Feng, never joke about such things. Your father has been trapped for so many years; it is time someone went to tell him—that his daughter has grown into a Dragon Emperor capable of standing on her own."

Zi Yan did not speak again, just walked up to Hun Feng, shoved the teacup into his hand, and turned to walk outside the hall.

Her pace was fast, so fast that Hun Feng could hear her heartbeat was several beats faster than usual.

Hun Feng took a look at the cup of tea that had already gone cold, placed it on the table, and followed her.

Two figures swept out of the main hall of East Dragon Island one after the other, disappearing into the void rift.